Person:Henry Champion (1)

The name is spelled Champion, Champeon, Champean, Champenyh, and Champen in records.

Henry Champion came from England to Saybrook, Conn. 1647 and later moved to Lyme, Conn. Henry was said to be "of independent if not gentle condition" and "of great age" at time of death.

From "Commemorative Biographical Record of New Haven County, Conn."

Henry Champion emigrated from England to the American Colonies and settled at Saybrook, Conn., where he is found as early as 1647. After having assisted in developing Saybrook, Mr. Champion removed with his family to the east side of the Connecticut River, and became one of the first and most active founders of the historic town of Lyme. Concerning his first wife little is known. His second wife, to whom he was married in March, 1698, was Deborah Jones. Mr. Champion died in February, 1709.

From Genealogy of the Puritans, pages 520-23 (pages are scattered among those they apply to)

CHAMPION, HENRY was born in England in 1611. He came to New England, and is found at Saybrook as early as 1647, as he married there in August 1647. Henry was propounded for a freeman at Lyme in 1670. Henry Champion was one of those complained of by John Prentis, &c., of N. London, to the county court at Hartford, in March, 1671-2, in the great quarrel between the people of New London and Lyme, as to the eastern bounds of Lyme and western bounds of New London. He had lands beyond "Little Stoney Brook" in June, 1674, and other lands. He removed from Saybrook to Lyme many years before he died... He had his earmark at Lyme, in 1673-4.

From Lyme Town Records, Book 2, p. 6

We the heirs of Henry Champion dec'd ... do mutually agree to divide the estate of our honored father above sd. into 4 equal shares; one to the children of Henry Champion dec'd, son of Henry aforesd.; one to children of Thomas dec'd; and one to Sarah Benet, and one to Mary Huntley [I believe she is the wife of Aaron Huntley], daus. of sd. Henry Champion. Aaron Huntley in behalf of wife Henry Benet in behalf of wife John Waide in behalf of wife and children

It was in the capacity of step-father to Thomas's children that he [John Wade] signed the above deed.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Henry Champion, in Trowbridge, Francis Bacon. The Champion Genealogy: A History of the Descendants of Henry Champion of Saybrook and Lyme, Connecticut, Together With Some Account of Other Families of the Same Name. (New Haven: The Author; printed by the Press of Tuttle, Morehead & Taylor, 1891)
   15-23.
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Cutter, William Richard. New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of the Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation. (New York, New York, United States: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913-14)
   4:1604-05.

   "(I) Henry Champion, the immigrant ancestor, came from England and settled in Saybrook, Connecticut, as early as 1647. He had various parcels of land in Saybrook, and about 1670 removed to Lyme, where he was one of the first and most active founders. He was admitted a freeman there May 12, 1670, and owned land. He built his house on the hill just east of the meeting house, and near the old burying ground. He died February 17, 1708-09, aged about ninety-eight years. He married (first) _____; (second), March 21, 1697-98, Deborah Jones, of Lyme. The following September an agreement was entered into between the heirs and the widow Deborah regarding the distribution of the estate, and the original of this agreement has been preserved."

3. ↑ Henry Champion, in Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England: Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register. (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co, 1860-1862)
   1:355.

   "Champion, Henry, Saybrook, m. Aug. 1647, had Sarah, b. 1649; Mary, 1651; Henry, 1654; Thomas, Apr. 1656; Stephen, 1658, d. 1660; and he m. 21 Mar. 1698, sec. w. Deborah, and d. at gr. age, 17 Feb. 1709. Sarah m. 27 Jan. 1673, Henry Bennett."

4. ↑ Lyme Vital Records [NEHGS], in Connecticut, United States. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records
   35.

   "[Champion,] Henery, Sr., … d. Feb. 17, 1708/9 [L-2:108]"